Scanner setup in Exeter
Professional scanner setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Scanner connected to your computer or network and working properly. I'll install drivers, set up scanning software, configure save locations, and show you how to scan documents.
Stop Paying the Post Office to Scan Things
You've got a scanner. It's definitely got a USB cable plugged in somewhere. But you've no idea how to actually scan anything, so you're taking documents to the Post Office and paying £2 a page, or using your phone camera and sending blurry photos.
Let me get your scanner actually working.
💡 Pro tip: Modern scanners can scan directly to email, cloud storage (Dropbox/Google Drive), or PDF files on your computer. Much more useful than old-school scanning to image files you can't edit or send easily.
Working Properly vs Taking Photos with Your Phone
| ✅ Scanner Working | ❌ Current Situation |
|---|---|
| Scan to PDF with one button | Taking photos with phone |
| Documents clear and readable | Wonky, shadowy, unreadable |
| Saves where you want it | No idea where scans go |
| Edit or email immediately | Can't send proper documents |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Connect scanner | USB or network connection to computer |
| Install software | Drivers, scanning software, OCR if available |
| Configure settings | Resolution, file format, save locations |
| Test & teach | Scan test documents, show you the process |
📦 You're Left With
- Scanner working and producing good scans
- Software you understand how to use
- Documents saving where you want them
- Ability to scan, save, and email documents
Pricing
| Service | You'll Pay |
|---|---|
| Scanner setup (USB or network) | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum callout. Includes driver installation and basic training.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ Just bought scanner - sitting in box looking intimidating
✅ Scanner not working - installed ages ago, never worked properly
✅ Printer scanner bit - printer works, scanner doesn't
✅ Network scanning - want to scan from multiple computers
Why Choose Us for Scanner setup in Exeter?
Scanner connected to computer or network
Scanning software installed and working
Save to PDF, cloud, or email set up
Shown how to use it in plain English
What to Expect
Step 1: Connect Scanner
Plug scanner into computer via USB, or connect to network if it's a network scanner. Make sure computer recognizes it.
Step 2: Install Software
Download and install latest drivers and scanning software. Configure scan settings (resolution, file type, color vs black & white).
Step 3: Test & Teach
Scan test documents to make sure everything works. Show you how to scan, where files save, how to change settings, and how to scan to email/cloud if wanted.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to try scanner setup yourself? Here's how:
🔧 What you'll need
- Scanner (or multi-function printer with scanner)
- USB cable or network connection
- Computer with internet (to download drivers)
- Documents to test with
📥 Installing drivers
- Go to manufacturer website (Canon, Epson, HP, Brother)
- Find Support or Downloads section
- Enter your scanner model number
- Download driver for your operating system
- Run installer, follow prompts
- Restart computer if asked
🔌 Connection types
USB scanner:
- Plug USB cable into computer
- Turn on scanner
- Windows should auto-detect (Mac too)
- Install drivers if prompted
Network scanner:
- Connect scanner to router via Ethernet or WiFi
- Get scanner's IP address from its display panel
- Install network scanning software on computer
- Add scanner by IP address
📄 Scanning software options
Built-in options:
- Windows: Scan app (Windows 10/11)
- Mac: Image Capture or Preview
- Simple, limited features
Manufacturer software:
- Canon IJ Scan Utility
- Epson Scan
- HP Smart
- More features, sometimes clunky
📊 Scan settings explained
Resolution:
- 150 DPI: quick scans, low quality
- 300 DPI: standard documents (recommended)
- 600 DPI: photos or detailed documents
- Higher = larger files, slower scans
File format:
- PDF: best for documents (can't easily edit)
- JPEG: photos, smaller files
- TIFF: high quality, huge files (rarely needed)
Color mode:
- Color: photos, color documents
- Grayscale: black & white photos
- Black & white: text documents (smallest files)
⚠️ Common DIY problems
- Scanner not recognized - check USB cable, try different port
- "No scanner found" - install drivers first, then plug in
- Scans look terrible - increase resolution (try 300 DPI)
- Can't find scanned files - check default save location in software
- Network scanner not found - check scanner and computer on same network
💡 Pro trick: For text documents, scan at 300 DPI in black & white mode to PDF. Gives readable, small files perfect for emailing. For photos, use 600 DPI in color mode to JPEG.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Multiple pages? If you're scanning a multi-page document, get a scanner with a document feeder (ADF). Putting pages on the glass one at a time gets old fast. Most modern multi-function printers have this.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition)? Fancy feature that turns scanned text into editable text. Useful if you need to edit scanned documents. Most scanner software includes basic OCR, but it's not always accurate.
Cloud scanning? Many modern scanners can scan directly to Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. Really useful for paperless office setups. I can configure this if your scanner supports it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's involved in setting up a scanner?
Connect scanner to computer or network, install drivers and software, configure scan settings (resolution, file format, destination), and show you how to actually use it. Sounds simple, but scanner software is often terrible and the manuals are worse.
Can you set it up so I can scan straight to email or cloud storage?
Yes - that's really useful for paperwork. I can configure scan-to-email, or save directly to Dropbox/Google Drive/OneDrive. Much easier than scanning to computer then uploading manually.
My scanner is part of a printer - can you help with that?
Yes - multi-function printers are common. The printer bit usually works fine, the scanner bit never gets set up properly. I'll get the scanning working and show you how to use it from the printer buttons or your computer.
Will it work with my Mac/Windows computer?
Almost certainly yes. Scanners from major brands (Canon, Epson, HP, Brother) work with both. The software looks different on Mac vs Windows, but I'll show you how to use whichever you've got.
How long does scanner setup take?
Most scanners - 30-45 minutes. Includes driver install, software setup, testing, and showing you how to use it. Network scanners or complicated multi-function setups might take an hour.
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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